CONTACT US
Left to right: Barbara Kenner, PhD, Scott Griswold, CPA and Karen Young, CPA join the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s Board of Directors.
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is pleased to announce the election of three new members to its coveted Board of Directors (BOD) -- Scott Griswold, CPA, of the Los Angeles area, Barbara Kenner, PhD, of New York City, and Karen Young, CPA, of New Jersey.
“We are elated to have Barbara, Scott and Karen join the PanCAN leadership team,” said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, the organization’s president and CEO. “Together, they bring decades of experience in both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors and will make invaluable contributions in our fight against the world’s toughest cancer.”
Griswold spent the bulk of his career working in a variety of roles under the leadership of self-made billionaire David Murdock. Throughout his tenure, he provided investment and financial analysis, along with operational oversight.
While he retired as executive vice president (EVP) from Murdock-owned Dole Food Company in 2013, he continued to work in a similar role at Murdock-owned Castle & Cooke Inc. until 2014. He’s now fully retired, but enjoys spending his free time giving back.
“I had a successful business career in finance,” Griswold said. “I hope that this will be beneficial in the financial oversight of PanCAN. I feel fortunate in my life and want to give back my time and utilize my past business experience to assist in the fight against pancreatic cancer.”
Helping find a cure for cancer is close to Griswold’s heart. His late wife passed away from lung cancer in 2016. In 2015, he lost a dear family friend to pancreatic cancer.
Kenner has experienced the impact of pancreatic cancer in her own family. Her husband, Peter, passed away just two months after doctors diagnosed him with neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer in 2010.
In 2013, Kenner founded Kenner Family Research Fund (KFRF). The organization’s mission is to advance early detection of pancreatic cancer by actively promoting inter-professional strategic collaboration among researchers, government, industry and patient advocacy groups. Published articles resulting from these collaborative forums provide a broader reach of information to the pancreatic cancer community.
“I feel privileged to join the PanCAN Board of Directors and have great respect for the critical work the organization achieves on behalf of patients and families,” Kenner said. “With an emerging focus on early detection, I look forward to working alongside other board members to accelerate this conversation in a thoughtful and strategic manner to improve quality of life and survival for patients and to change the course of the disease.”
Kenner works with several cancer nonprofits whose aim is to increase survival, awareness and funding. Kenner Family Research Fund and PanCAN are founding members of the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition (WPCC), which includes 74 member organizations from 31 countries and six continents.
Young is the U.S. Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). In this role, she leads more than 3,000 colleagues in delivering advisory, tax and assurance businesses. She drives the strategic direction in client service, capabilities and thought leadership.
Young’s passion behind joining PanCAN comes from the loss of two family members – her father, who died in 2012 just nine months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer – and her aunt who also passed away from the disease.
“My father’s journey provided me insights and perspectives around the patient experience,” Young said. “In my leadership role, I see how companies are passionate about improving patient outcomes and driving innovation towards eradicating cancer. I wanted to extend that mission to my personal life, so that’s why I decided to join the PanCAN Board of Directors.”
Young will bring years of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals experience to her PanCAN board role.
She has also been recognized for her contributions and expertise outside of the PwC office, including the NJBIZ, who identified her as one of the Best 50 Women in Business and the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association, who presented her with its prestigious Rising Star Award.
The addition of Griswold, Kenner and Young will aid PanCAN in its urgent mission to save lives by attacking pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy.
